For me, it has shielded me from the disease of addiction. I use daily meditation as a coping skill for dealing with stress instead of turning to drugs or alcohol (like I did before I found recovery — and meditation).

Meditation doesn’t have to be time-consuming or difficult. A few minutes a day can be enough. Plus, it’s free and available to everyone.

I’ll share the 5 reasons why I meditate and you should start meditatingdaily…

#1 – You’ll Feel Healthier

Meditation can help you get healthier, and its benefits aren’t restricted to just mental health. Although meditation is known for helping to relieve anxiety and depression, the practice of quieting your mind has a big impact on your physical health, too.

Meditating for just 20 minutes a day has been shown to lower blood pressure, relieve chronic pain, and even boost your immune system.

TIP: If 20 minutes sounds like too much, there are no rules to incorporating meditation into your life and even the shortest amount of time can benefit your health over time. So no, you don’t have to meditate for 20 minutes at at time — break it up into a few 5-minute meditations if you want to.

#2 – You’ll Cope With Stress Better

If you frequently feel overwhelmed by stress and tension, meditation is one of the most effective ways you can chill out.

When you sit down to meditate, the act of stilling your mind and focusing on your breathing lowers your heart rate and relaxes your muscles —calming your body and mind down.

TIP: You don’t have to “go anywhere” to meditate, you can take a few deep breaths at any time and no one even has to know! That’s one of the benefits of meditation that I love the most.

#3 – You’ll Become Aware Of Negative Thought Patterns

When you try to quiet your mind, you’ll become more aware of all the thoughts that pop into your head.

Over time, this enhanced awareness of your thoughts willcarry over from your meditation sessions to all the other times when you’re not meditating.

You’ll learn to spot negative thoughts. But this doesn’t mean you should ignore your thoughts or feelings. Take it from me, that isn’t a good idea. One of the benefits of meditation is that it allows you to acknowledge thoughts and feelings and can be done anywhere.

TIP: Try this short meditation that I recite when I’m stressed or angry:

Feelings that I ignore remain trapped inside me. Feelings that I acknowledge lead me deeper into consciousness, where love and wisdom reside.

I repeat this meditation 2 to 3 times which only takes me about 30 to 60 seconds and I immediately stop negative thoughts from piling up. I don’t do this perfectly — and not always at the exact time I need to — but it’s progress not perfection.

#4 – You’ll Form Better Habits

When you meditate regularly, you become more aware of your thoughts and motivations.

This kind of mindfulness is important for good habit formation. When you have a mindful outlook, you’re less likely to make impulsive decisions that won’t benefit you in the long run, and you’re more likely to do things that will contribute to your long-term well-being and happiness.

I’ve always been a reactionary person (sometimes called fight or flight) — focused on my reaction to what someone has done or said. But when I’ve reacted too quickly in the past, it has resulted in doing or saying something I didn’t mean (more than once!).

TIP: I like the 3-Minute Breathing Routine and use it when I feel that I need to collect myself prior to reacting. Here are the steps:

Determine exactly what I’m feeling

Fully focus on my in and out breaths

Make sure that I am physically safe and self-soothe

Once I’ve done all 3 steps, I’m almost always calmer. If I find that I’m not, then I do it again!

#5 – You’ll Be Happier

Meditation decreases your stress, makes you healthier, gives you control over your thoughts, and helps you make good decisions. No wonder it also comes with the side benefit of making you happier!

Studies have shown that meditation may treat anxiety and depression just as effectively as drugs — plus it’s free, natural, and has no side effects. That’s definitely something to be happy about!

TIP: I have reduced the types and amounts of anxiety and depression medications by over 75% since I started a daily meditation practice and it truly has been life-changing. I feel healthier and happier than I have in many years. Chances are, you will too!

All you need to start meditating is time and the willingness to try. Even 5 minutes spent meditating can make a difference in how you feel — so why not start building a new meditation habit today?

I'm a health nut, a frugal mom, a dog lover, a DIYer, and a gadget girl. Personally, as a post-divorce, working single mom on a budget I have a lot of experiences that I enjoy sharing so others can learn from the things I wish I knew earlier! Professionally, I've worked full-time in a variety of marketing, sales, and editing jobs. You can always find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as Managing Editor at The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites).

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